Colsen Fire Pit Lawsuit Involving Severe Burn Injuries Suffered by a Child Set for Trial Next Year

An unexpected jet of flame set the child’s chest, hands, legs and hair on fire when her family added more fuel to the portable, tabletop fire pit.

A Texas jury is expected to hear testimony sometime next summer in a product liability lawsuit against Amazon.com and the makers of Colsen Fire Pits, involving allegations that design defects with a small, tabletop fire pit caused a child to suffer severe burns when the alcohol-fueled device exploded and created a powerful flame jet.

The complaint was originally filed by Sandra Little in Texas state court earlier this year, pursuing damages for herself and her minor child, who is identified only with the initials A.L. However, Amazon removed (PDF) the claim to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, where it is now being overseen by U.S. District Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo.

According to a scheduling order (PDF) issued last month, Judge Palermo indicates that discovery in the case will be completed by the end of this year, with a trial expected to begin by July or August 2026.

Little indicates in her lawsuit that she bought a rubbing alcohol-fueled Colsen portable fire pit in December 2021 through Amazon.com. However, when the family added fuel to the fire pit during regular use in March 2023, flames allegedly shot out of the device, igniting A.L.’s clothing and parts of her body.

The girl suffered severe burns to her chest, hands and legs, as well as loss of hair. As a result of the fire pit burn injuries, A.L. required emergency medical treatment, and the mother indicates that her child continues to need medical care two years later.

Little’s daughter is just one of dozens of individuals who have suffered similar burn injuries from the alcohol-fueled tabletop fire pits sold in recent years, including at least two deaths linked to the products.

The complaint comes as a growing number of families are beginning to file tabletop fire pit burn lawsuits, after learning that the explosions were the result of dangerous design defects that could have been prevented with the addition of safety features and better label warnings.

The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a Colsen tabletop fire pit recall in October 2024, pulling nearly 100,000 units from the market following reports of incidents and burn injuries similar to those reported by Little. Consumers reported flash fires, jetting flames, invisible alcohol flames and sudden eruptions causing serious injuries.

Two months later the CPSC issued a warning of similar incidents involving FLIKfire firepits. According to the warning, these risks are found with any similar liquid fuel-burning fire pit that lacks flame arrestors, spill guards and visible flame indicators.

At least 60 injuries and two deaths have been linked to tabletop fire pits since 2019, according to the CPSC.

Little’s complaint (PDF) claims Colsen manufactured a defective device, and then Amazon.com negligently sold it on its platform, vouching for the fire pit’s safety.

“The unsafe condition of the Colsen Fire Pit, including any latent defects that made the Colsen fire pit prone to dangerous overheating, flame jetting, and ignited fuel spilling over was one that a basic investigation by Amazon would have easily and quickly revealed. Despite this, Amazon did nothing to mitigate this danger.”

–Sandra Little v. Amazon.com Inc. et al

Little presents claims of strict product liability, negligence, and breach of express warranty.

Fire Pit Lawsuits

Tabletop fire pit burn injury lawyers are now investigating claims for individuals throughout the U.S., seeking financial compensation for physical and emotional injuries resulting from these dangerous products.

Injuries linked to tabletop fire pits include:

• Second- or third-degree burns requiring medical treatment
• Permanent scarring, nerve damage or loss of mobility
• Inhalation injuries from sudden fire eruptions
• Fire-related injuries to children or bystanders
• Accidents caused by flame jetting during refueling
• Wrongful death linked to fire pit explosions
• Time away from work or short-term disability due to injuries
• Prolonged medical care, hospitalization or rehabilitation
• Permanent disfigurement or long-term psychological trauma

To find out if you may be eligible for a tabletop fire pit lawsuit settlement, submit your information for a free legal consultation. A lawyer can help identify the product involved, determine if your injuries are linked to a recalled or hazardous model, and explain your legal rights.

All fire pit injury claims are handled on a contingency-fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs, and no legal fees unless compensation is recovered.